Game #21
ART U Urban Knights (13-7, 8-5 PacWest) vs. UH Hilo Vulcans (14-4, 10-3 PacWest)
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.
Belmont, Calif. – Walter Gleason Gym
Live Stats and Video
ART U Game Notes 1-29-23

Game #22
ART U Urban Knights (13-7, 8-5 PacWest) at APU Cougars (14-6, 9-4 PacWest)
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Azusa, Calif. – Felix Event Center
Live Stats | Live Video
ART U Game Notes 2-2-23

Game #23
ART U Urban Knights (13-7, 8-5 PacWest) at BU Eagles (12-7, 7-5 PacWest)
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. 
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video
ART U Game Notes 2-4-23

TO BE THE MAN...
Winners in three of their past four thanks to their eighth double-digit win of the year last time out, Academy of Art men's basketball looks to keep the momentum rolling in a trio of matchups that could be potential Pacific West Conference Tournament previews as ART U plays host to second place UH Hilo before returning to the road to take on third place Azusa Pacific and fifth place Biola. 

TIP-OFF
Sunday will be an afternoon matinee for the rematch against the Vulcans with the tip scheduled for 3:30 p.m. while Thursday's meeting with the Cougars will take place at 7 p.m. The Knights' Saturday showdown with the Eagles also gets underway at 3:30 p.m. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) and on Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.

KNIGHTS' QUEST
Academy of Art was 2-1 over its three games last week, dominating Concordia in a rematch for their largest margin of victory this season in a 94-63 thrashing of the Golden Eagles, which was their third straight game scoring 90 points or more (new program record) and their fifth time overall (ties last year's program record), and was also their fourth 20-point win of the season (also program record). Meanwhile, their other win of the week also came by double-digits as the Knights pulled down the third most rebounds in a game in program history while sweeping the season series against Hawaii Pacific, 82-72. Over half of the rebounds belonged to junior forward Latrell Williams and senior forward Mike Asante in double-double efforts, with Williams grabbing the third-most boards in program history with 19 rebounds and 16 points while Asante had 20 points and 13 rebounds. However, the lone loss came at the hands of then-No. 20 and now No. 13 Point Loma, as the Sea Lions won both regular season matchups by holding on for a 75-72 final despite the Knights taking them to the final whistle and a program-record tying 20 rebounds from Asante. 

For the third time this season an Urban Knight was named the PacWest Defender of the Week, as Asante collected the honor for the second time in his career (also: Jan. 4) after he snatched an average of 14.5 rebounds per game, with an average of 13.0 per game coming at the defensive end. He joins senior guard Klay Brown who earned the award on Nov. 21, 2022, and the Knights are nearly halfway to the five Urban Knights and seven total awards earned last season (both program records).

After winning the first four games of the season for the first time in program history (all opponents in the CCAA), ART U dropped three of their next four games including their first two PacWest contests against Point Loma and Concordia. This was the first time since 2018-19 that ART U was defeated in its first two PacWest games, with the losses occurring to the same two teams, however, that season culminated in ART U's first ever PacWest Tournament appearance. Academy of Art got back on track winning five of their next seven contests, which included tying the program-record with four straight PacWest victories (accomplished twice last season under coach Waterman) and consecutive 90-point performances with their largest point total of the season (98) against Biola, while the losses came against preseason PacWest favorite Azusa Pacific and NCAA Division I opponent Saint Mary's.

Though Chaminade put a stop to that stretch and snapped the conference winning streak, the Knights have still won three of their past five games which includes a new program record of three straight games eclipsing 90 points (93.0 ppg avg.), starting in the loss to the Silverswords (only loss scoring 75 points or more). The streak continued with Hilo and CUI, which also happened to see the Knights set a program record with their third and fourth 20-point win of the year (previous record: three, 2021-22) after beating Hilo by 22 before topping Concordia by 31 in the rematch. All three of the victories in this span have been by double-digits thanks to the recent defeat of HPU. The other loss in that span came to No. 20 Point Loma, sweeping the season series with ART U while also dropping the Knights to 1-1 against ranked opponents this season after an earlier win against then-No. 19 Saint Martin's.

KNIGHT WATCH
ART U has scored 75 or more points in 11 of their 20 contests this year (10-1, 87.1 ppg in those games), twice topping 80 points in consecutive games before reaching the fifth-most (98 at Biola), sixth-most (97 at HNU) and ninth-most (95 at CUH) points in program history. In all, they have hit the 90-point barrier five times which ties a program record (also 2021-22). All told, that leads to an overall season average of 77.7 ppg, which would be a new program record. In 13 of 20 games ART U has shot above 40.0 percent from the field, including eight of the past 10 contests, while reaching above 50.0 percent in four of those eight (including in consecutive games against Hilo and CUI) and five instances overall with their season best against Biola (58.5 percent, 40-for-68). The current scoring margin of +6.6 would be an ART U program record, which is lifted by their new program record of four 20-point wins with their season-best 31-point win against CUI their largest since defeating UH Hilo 81-48 on Feb. 13 of last season. Ball movement has been key, recording double-digit assists in each of their first six games (14.7 apg in those games) and 17 of 20 total games (13.65 apg), with their season-best of 23 against BU ranking fifth-most in program history while their 22 against Hilo is tied for sixth-most. With a total of 273 assists, ART U has assisted on 46.9 percent (273-of-581) of their total baskets this year. 

In comparison opponents are averaging 71.1 ppg against ART U this season, only six times allowing an opponent to score 75 or more points (high of 98 at CUH).They allowed a season-low 52 points against FPU on Jan. 2, which was the fewest allowed since they gave up just 48 to UH Hilo last season Feb. 13, 2022, and is tied for the sixth-fewest points allowed in school history. Additionally, FPU was held to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field, the second-lowest percentage ART U has held an opponent to in program history (first: 27.8 percent at HNU, Jan. 6, 2009). Overall, opponents hit on only 31.3 percent (154-for-492) of attempts from three-point range. Nine times has ART U totaled double-digit steals, reaching the mark in three consecutive games prior to Hilo though their season-high of 15 came against Sonoma State on Nov. 13, 2022. That leads to a current season average of 9.55 per game (191 total), and they are currently on pace to finish with 267 by season's end (would be the second-most in ART U history). In the battle on the boards, ART U has snatched 806 rebounds (40.3 per game) to the 722 of their opponents (36.1 per game), nine times grabbing 40 or more with their season-best of 53 coming last time out against HPU which is tied for third-most in a game in program history. Currently they are on pace to finish with 1,128 rebounds, which would be the second-most in school history while the rebounding average would be a program record.

Graduate student guard Will Balata now holds the team lead in scoring with 12.6 ppg, dropping double figures in the previous five games before HPU (11 times overall) with a season best of 25 points against Hilo. Just behind him is senior guard Klay Brown with 12.1 ppg, who also holds the ART U lead in blocks with a season best of three on three occasions (1.1 bpg, sixth in PacWest). The third Urban Knight in double-digit scoring is senior forward Mike Asante, who has now reached the mark in five straight (and eight of past nine) to average 11.8 ppg on the year. Many have cleaned up the glass for ART U, but Asante's 8.2 rpg leads the Knights and is fourth in the PacWest, while Williams now pulls down 6.9 rpg which places him sixth in the PacWest. When moving the ball, Brown's 2.7 apg (54 total) leads the team and just misses the conference top 10, while sophomore guard Rodney Munson adds 2.1 apg (42 total) and graduate student guard Stephon Hall has 17 helpers in his last five games (3.4 per game; 2.1 apg for season). Defensively, Brown has notched multiple steals in all but six games (high of four three times) for a team-best average of 2.2, leading the PacWest in steals average and total steals (43). Meanwhile, graduate student guard Deang Deang trails shortly behind in fifth in the PacWest with 1.7 spg (32 total, also fifth), while Munson sits ninth with 1.5 per game (29 total).

VERY ACTIVE VULCAN-OES
Currently the second place team in the PacWest and ranked tied for sixth in the NCAA DII west region is UH Hilo, who are in the midst of a three-game winning streak thanks to defeating Holy Names, Dominican Fresno Pacific. Overall they have won five of their past seven, with the two losses coming to Biola and in the first matchup with ART U, with both contests taking place in Hawaii. The Vulcans offense is potent averaging 80.4 ppg, which is second in the PacWest, while connecting on over 50.4 percent of their shot attempts, which is first in the conference. Defensively Hilo allows 72.4 ppg, which is just seventh in the conference despite having the fourth-best field goal defense in the conference as opponents connect on only 43.2 percent of their attempts. Meanwhile, they are also the best three-point shooting team in the PacWest by knocking down 39.7 percent of their shots from beyond the arc while placing third in both assists per game with (14.11 apg) and rebound average (38.2 rpg), but have a negative turnover margin (eighth, -1.39). Four Vulcans average double-digit scoring led by the 18.1 per game from Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, which is third in the PacWest while the 17.9 from Carlos Ramsey Jr. is fourth. Tait-Jones may be one of the best two-way players in the conference, as he also leads the PacWest in rebounding average with 9.4 per game. Darren Williams is the primary ball mover with 4.7 helpers per game, second in the PacWest, while the 3.8 apg from Tait-Jones is sixth. Academy of Art has won each of the past two games and five of the past six against UH Hilo, including the first matchup this year, as they lead the all-time series 11-9. 

FIESTY COUGARS
Though Azusa Pacific has won each of its most recent two games against Biola and Chaminade in convincing fashion, it came on the heels of a three-game losing streak with defeats at the hands of Point Loma, UH Hilo and Hawaii Pacific, leading them into third place in the PacWest and separated by only one game from both second place Hilo and fourth place ART U. Though APU enjoys the second-best scoring margin in the conference (+8.3), it comes on the heels of their defense as they allow a conference-low 66.0 ppg by opponents, though they themselves score just 74.4 ppg (sixth-most). While their field goal percentage is in the bottom half of the rankings, they are third in 3-point percentage (37.1 percent) meaning that the three-point line will be an area to watch against ART U. Additionally, they are among the leagues leaders in most defensive categories, as they are second only to the Knights in steals per game (7.5 spg) while ranking third in blocks per game (3.05 bpg). Only one Cougar scores in double figures as Ken West pours in 13.8 ppg, though five others average at least 8.0 ppg or better. Doing the work on the boards is the combo of Justing Hemsely and Nate Kleppe, with Hemsley pulling down 5.3 rpg while Kleppe is just behind with 5.2 rpg. The Cougars got the better of the Knights in the first meeting this season, and have won 15 of the 17 all-time matchups with ART U with the exception of the first ever clash between the two and last year's PacWest Tournament Final. 

FLYING LIKE AN EAGLE
Biola has captured victories in six of their past eight games to remain in fifth place in the PacWest standings, as they are currently tied with the Knights in both conference and overall records but lose the head-to-head tiebreaker thanks to the Knights capturing the win in the earlier part of the campaign. Most recently they have won two of their past three contests, with bookending wins over UH Hilo and Chaminade surrounding a double-digit loss to Azusa Pacific. Though Biola has the second-best field goal percentage in the conference, they are fifth with 76.6 ppg and have the fifth-best scoring margin at +6.5. Additionally, they are second only to ART U as one of only two teams that average 40.0 rebounds or more per game with exactly 40.0 rpg through the year. However, Biola does have a negative turnover margin (seventh, -0.90) and is ninth in the PacWest in steals per game (5.65 spg). Two Eagles average 16.0 ppg or more led by the 16.1 from Daniel Esparza, seventh in the conference, while the 16.0 ppg from Alex Wright is eighth. Strong on the boards is Maximo Milovich with 9.4 rebounds per game, second in the PacWest, while Wright is also eighth in the PacWest in assists per game with 3.0. Academy of Art has won each of the past two meetings with Biola, which has tied the all-time series at 4-4. 

MEN'S HOOPS DOMINATES GLASS IN 82-72 VICTORY OVER HPU
Academy of Art men's basketball showed why they are the top rebounding team in the Pacific West Conference on Tuesday night against Hawaii Pacific, dominating the glass and snatching a new season-high in rebounds which helped ART U weather the late HPU comeback attempt, sinking HPU in conference action by an 82-72 final.  

LOOKING AHEAD
Academy of Art returns home for a pair of contests after their lone game on the road to end the week, with the Urban Knights set for their first matchup of the year against Bay Area rival Dominican before a quick detour from PacWest action to take on UC Santa Cruz.